Imagine a life with more purpose and less stuff. Less clothing, less chaos, less work, and less stress. If your bed is lost under a mountain of t-shirts and finding time in your day is like scheduling an appointment with the Prime Minister, it just might be time to ask yourself: ‘Would I be happier with fewer things and greater mental space?
This is the life of a minimalist.
Discover what this minimalism thing is all about
Minimalism’s roots can be traced all the way back to the Greek philosopher Epicurus. His key finding? A cluttered life tends to equal a cluttered mind. These days, there is a growing community of people who have found meaning in a life with fewer possessions. And, as a result, have discovered the space (both mental and physical) to get more done. From those who quit to travel the world with everything they own in a backpack, to busy people who consciously dedicate an hour each day to meditation – the philosophy is as varied as the people who practice it. The one thing they all have in common is the drive to be intentional with their time.
Don’t let clutter cramp your style
If you often feel like there’s too much to do and not enough time to do it, you might benefit from simplifying. Decluttering makes more space for the things in life that are important. But rather than cramming your schedule like you (used to) cram your wardrobe, try and be purposeful with the time you have. After all, a tidy home is one that’s always ready for friends to stop by, and a clear agenda gives you the room to paint your next masterpiece or conjure up an ingenious invention (or, you know, just take a long bath and chill out).
Make more from having less
Think back on the past day. It’s probably been filled with the likes of frenzied online shopping, manically checking emails, tidying, attending meetings… or scrolling through Facebook. If you could design your dream life, would it look like this? Maybe you want to learn judo, or become a pilot, or start writing poetry. Or maybe you just crave more time for yourself. The surprise is, if you remove the things in your life that you don’t need, you’ll find the time to do more of what you want. Stripping back the excess in your life isn’t just about having less, it’s also about having more.
More time, more freedom and, ultimately, more happiness.
Intrigued? Find out more:
Here are a few of our favourite books, podcasts and articles on minimalism.
https://medium.com/simple-not-easy/how-minimalism-fosters-productivity-6e747ff05117
https://www.theminimalists.com/podcast/
https://focusme.com/blog/how-to-harness-the-power-of-minimalism-to-become-more-productive/
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/apr/12/goodbye-things-hello-minimalism-can-living-with-less-make-you-happier
3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED WITH MINIMALISM
- If decluttering your whole home seems a little daunting, start by clearing your desk, office or lounge.
- Use it or lose it. There are probably clothes in your wardrobe that haven’t seen the sun in months. It’s time to visit the local donation bin with anything you haven’t worn in the past year.
- When you’re looking for things to get rid of, go through your stuff and find the double-ups. No one needs two sets of fancy table mats.